Closer To Fine

By Meri Weiss

In this luminous debut novel about a young woman putting her life back together after the death of her brother, Meri Weiss explores hope after heartbreak, and the myriad ways that those we love can make us whole again. . . Growing up, Alexandra and her older brother Ashley were never close. Her decision to move in to Ashley's Upper West Side apartment to care for him during his final months surprises herself as much as anyone, but it can't erase the guilt Alex feels at the years they wasted. Now, four years after his death, with a bout of depression and a suicide attempt behind her, Alex feels fragile but no longer broken. As for normal--only with her roommate and best friend Jordy and their gay friend Jax can she feel anything close to that. Then Alex's therapist, Sam, bequeaths her a cryptic message that changes everything. The note reads simply, "You're missing a piece of yourself." At Sam's funeral, Alex meets Tucker--the charming, cute son of one of New York's wealthiest businessmen. As their romance deepens, Tucker tries to draw Alex out of her safety zone. But is Tucker the key to Sam's riddle, or is the real answer still waiting to be found? At once humorous and heartbreaking, and peopled with deftly rendered characters, Closer to Fine is an exquisite first novel about love, loss, and self discovery, written with uncommon verve and grace.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 075822690X
• ISBN13: 9780758226907
• Release Date: July 2008
• Publisher: Kensington
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.8" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

READ THIS NOVEL!

Closer to Fine, by Meri Weiss, is an absolutely stellar debut novel! Without knowing it, one would likely never know that this is Ms. Weiss' first--it is THAT GOOD! The prose is that of a seasoned writer, the characters are so well-rounded you will believe you know them (or at least would want to be friends with them), and while the plot offers a twist when compared to today's typical main stream fiction, it is a story ANY reader can relate to and appreciate. Though this story is FUN to read, and moves quickly, it is also jam-packed with the journeys and struggles of FAMILY, FRIENDS, and the ultimate (perhaps unending) "search" to find oneself. If you've ever been a 20 or 30-something (or 40, 50, 85), you won't want to miss out on this fantastic novel! Cliche, but it can't be helped, you WILL laugh (often out-loud!), you will cry, you will identify with the cast and crew of this novel, you will wax nostalgic, and you will find yourself swept away into the world of those who comprise Closer to Fine. READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!! You'll be glad you did!

Great new young writer!

Meri Weiss kept me engaged from the very beginning of her book, "Closer to Fine". She accomplished an instantanous connection that new young novelists are not always capable in doing. Meri Weiss found her voice which was clear and presice; yet she keep me wondering; what is going to happen next? She found the emotions, passions and depth in describing both New York City, the mountains of New York State and the desires of the Hamptons, all very different locations, of which I am so familar with. I loved the trips her characters take together, she brought youth and vitality to each of these characters souls! I look forward to her next endeavor and wonder where "we" will be taking another trip!

Craft and story

Written with a deft hand and acute ear, Weiss captures the nuances of life in a world where most are connected via emails, text messages and unfinished conversations; but with characters so complete, this novel manages to lift the reader into a world of truly connected souls. These are friendships the reader will envy. Although the thrust of the story comes out of loss and regret, there are moments of pure existential reckoning. It is a coming of age story set in New York by an original new voice that will hopefully become as recognizable as her characters have become to me. Read her and read her now.

A Stunning Debut

In Closer to Fine, Meri Weiss accomplishes what few new and young novelists have yet to do: she sustains--throughout her entire book--captivating characters, an engaging plot, and fluid language. She doesn't trick us with cheeky, precocious protagonists or fancy speech; instead, she creates life as it is--real, heartrending, redemptive. It's a worthwhile read, especially for those who want to learn about the craft of writing as they read.

Great Page Turner!

I did not intend to read this entire book in one day, but that's what I ended up doing. Every time I put it down, I found myself wondering what happened next, so I picked it up again. The main character, Alex, had an extremely compelling voice and I felt like I knew her right from the first chapter. This narrative reads true to life. All the characters are extremely realistic and I wish that I knew some of these people--especially Alex's best friends Jordi and Jax. I like the way the author moves back and forth between the gritty, fast-passed environment of NYC, to more suburban or rural areas. It keeps the pace of the novel moving and it keeps the story interesting. I could identify with many of the pivotal moments in this novel and some of the major changes Alex went through. It was also nice to see so many gay characters--this is not typical in your everyday, average literary experience and it was refreshing. The ending really moved me and I definitely shed a tear or two. I highly recommend this book. Take it to the beach, bring it on the subway, stay at home and read the whole thing when you're sick like I did. It'll take your mind off your ailments--that's for sure!